Barrick Gold Corp ABX-T aims to restart operations at the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) later this year, CEO Mark Bristow said on Friday.
The mine was placed on care and maintenance in April 2020 following a dispute over benefit sharing terms between the government, local people and Barrick, as part of renewing the mining lease.
Porgera produced nearly 600,000 ounces of gold in 2019.
The mobile fleet and fixed plant are being recommissioned, the mining and metallurgy plans updated and the personnel recruitment plan finalized in preparation for the restart, Bristow said.
PNG stakeholders own 51 per cent of New Porgera with the rest held by Barrick Niugini, a unit of the gold miner, which will operate the mine.